UFCThe Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization, recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC. This promotion is responsible for solidifying the sport's postion in the history-books.
UFC is currently undergoing a remarkable surge in popularity, along with greater mainstream media coverage. UFC programming can now be seen on FOX, FX, and FUEL TV in the United States, as well as in 35 other countries worldwide.

You understand that Mark Coleman was the first real athlete to come into the sport of MMA. Sure, Ken Shamrock was a little bit athletic, but Coleman was a legit NCAA champion.

He introduced the groundnpound as a style for wrestlers and he revolutionized grappling in MMA by introducing straight shot wrestling of NCAA caliber, instead of the judo basics of the early UFC.

That and he was the first UFC heavyweight champion.

Mark Coleman changed the way that people look at MMA, he changed the way that fighters train and he was the pioneer of wrestling as a form of fighting in the sport.

I like Sakuraba, but Sakuraba didn't change the way that fighters fight. He did change the way that many see the Gracie family, but he did not revolutionize the sport.

Does Sakuraba deserve to be in a general MMA Hall-of-Fame? Absolutely. He has some accomplishments in the sport and a lengthy history that is worth recognizing.

Does he deserve to be in more than Mark Coleman? Not at all.

Mark Coleman defined a generation of fighters. Without him we don't get Mark Kerr, we don't get Kevin Randleman, we don't get Sean Sherk. All of those wrestlers (love them or hate them), come to MMA in the footsteps of Mark Coleman.

It's fine to defend Sakuraba, but you probably shouldn't do it at the expense of a fighter far more accomplished than he is.

You understand that Mark Coleman was the first real athlete to come into the sport of MMA. Sure, Ken Shamrock was a little bit athletic, but Coleman was a legit NCAA champion.

He introduced the groundnpound as a style for wrestlers and he revolutionized grappling in MMA by introducing straight shot wrestling of NCAA caliber, instead of the judo basics of the early UFC.

That and he was the first UFC heavyweight champion.

Mark Coleman changed the way that people look at MMA, he changed the way that fighters train and he was the pioneer of wrestling as a form of fighting in the sport.

I like Sakuraba, but Sakuraba didn't change the way that fighters fight. He did change the way that many see the Gracie family, but he did not revolutionize the sport.

Does Sakuraba deserve to be in a general MMA Hall-of-Fame? Absolutely. He has some accomplishments in the sport and a lengthy history that is worth recognizing.

Does he deserve to be in more than Mark Coleman? Not at all.

Mark Coleman defined a generation of fighters. Without him we don't get Mark Kerr, we don't get Kevin Randleman, we don't get Sean Sherk. All of those wrestlers (love them or hate them), come to MMA in the footsteps of Mark Coleman.

It's fine to defend Sakuraba, but you probably shouldn't do it at the expense of a fighter far more accomplished than he is.

Fedor has also admitted that coleman was a big influence on his fighting style .Coleman may have invented the ground and pound but fedor perfected it.

I am a saku fan and I find the list of people he has beaten more impressive then coleman

Maybe pointing out coleman was wrong from me sorry if I offended you

It clearly wasn't trolling, it just wasn't very smart.

I mean, as much of a Sakuraba fan as you might be, we're talking about a fighter that has never won a world championship and has never held a #1 ranking in the world. As far as I'm concerned, a fighter that has been the top man in the world, even if its only for a few fights, has a more memorable career than a fighter who doesn't.

If we're going to talk about fighters who belong in a Hall-of-Fame, there's a long list. Alot of people recognize Saku, but he's only got a handful of wins over recognizable fighters, and none of them are over fighters in their prime (with the exception of, perhaps, Randleman).

There is historical significance in regards to Sakuraba, but there are 20 guys I can think of who deserve to be in a Hall-of-Fame before Saku, and Coleman is one of them.